Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.6.24
नैष त्वया मनुष्येन्द्र वधमर्हति सर्पराट् ।
अनेन पीतममृतमथ वा अजरामर: ॥ २४ ॥
naiṣa tvayā manuṣyendra
[naisha tvayaa manushyendra]
vadham arhati sarpa-rāṭ
[vadham arhati sarpa-raat]
anena pītam amṛtam
[anena peetam amritam]
atha vā ajarāmaraḥ
[atha vaa ajaraamarah]
Word-for-word
na
—
not
eṣaḥ
—
this snake-bird
tvayā
—
by you
manuṣya-indra
—
O great ruler of men
vadham
—
murder
arhati
—
deserves
sarpa-rāṭ
—
the king of snakes
anena
—
by him
pītam
—
has been drunk
amṛtam
—
the nectar of the demigods
atha
—
therefore
vai
—
certainly
ajara
—
free from the effects of old age
amaraḥ
—
virtually immortal.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
naiṣa tvayā manuṣyendra
na
not
eṣaḥ
this snake-bird
tvayā
by you
manuṣya-indra
O great ruler of men
vadham arhati sarpa-rāṭ
vadham
murder
arhati
deserves
sarpa-rāṭ
the king of snakes
anena pītam amṛtam
anena
by him
pītam
has been drunk
amṛtam
the nectar of the demigods
atha vā ajarāmaraḥ
atha
therefore
vai
certainly
ajara
free from the effects of old age
amaraḥ
virtually immortal.
O King among men, it is not fitting that this king of snakes meet death at your hands, for he has drunk the nectar of the immortal demigods. Consequently he is not subject to the ordinary symptoms of old age and death.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O King among men! It is not fitting that this Indra who remains with Takṣaka should be killed by you, for he has drunk nectar. Consequently he is not subject to the ordinary symptoms of old age and death.
You are king of the humans. You should not kill Indra, king of the devatās who remains with the snake (sarpa-rāṭ). Having drunken nectar, he is certainly immortal and ageless.
Personal Guidance
Bṛhaspati tells the king Taksaka has drunk amṛta and cannot be killed by him. Some battles cannot be won by force of will alone; the wise see this and stop pushing. Knowing when to stop is half of wisdom.
Reflection Questions
- Which battle of mine am I refusing to recognize as unwinnable in its present form?
- What would 'stopping with dignity' look like there?
My note
Source: vedabase.io